Conway, Bevin slated for five debates starting next week

Democratic Attorney General Jack Conway and Republican Matt Bevin will square off in their first gubernatorial debate June 19 at the County Judge-Executives/Magistrates Conference in Louisville.

That’s one of five scheduled debates between the two, Conway’s campaign announced Monday.

The gubernatorial hopefuls are slated to meet at Kentucky Farm Bureau’s “Measure the Candidates” event July 23; a debate hosted by WAVE-TV and AARP at Centre College Oct. 6; a forum held by WLKY-TV, WKYT-TV and the Kentucky League of Women Voters at Eastern Kentucky University Oct. 25; and Kentucky Educational Television’s “Kentucky Tonight” Oct. 26.

Conway and Bevin will also share the stage at this year’s Fancy Farm picnic Aug. 1, an event known more for zingers and crafty speeches than intense policy debates.

“I look forward to a serious discussion with my opponent about the issues that matter most to Kentucky families,” Conway said in a statement.

“These debates will offer voters a clear contrast, and I’m excited to share my plans to continue moving Kentucky forward by focusing on middle-class priorities like job creation, education and making government do more with less as Kentucky’s next governor.”

Ben Hartman, Bevin’s campaign manager, said the Louisville investment manager is eager to offer his ideas for the next gubernatorial administration, saying a robust debate schedule is “better for the people of Kentucky to get to hear the difference between the two candidates.”

“We’re happy to do debates and we look forward to as many debates as we can do on a variety of different issues, including health care and others,” Hartman told Pure Politics.

Kevin Wheatley

Kevin Wheatley is a reporter for Pure Politics. He joined cn|2 in September 2014 after five years at The State Journal in Frankfort, where he covered Kentucky government and politics. You can reach him at kevin.wheatley@charter.com or 502-792-1135 and follow him on Twitter at @KWheatley_cn2.